Caster-controller for wheel-plows.



W. S. NICHOLS.

oAsTBR uoNTRoLLER PoR WHEEL PLoWs.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1913,

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W. S. NICHOLS.

oAsTBL CONTROLLER PoR WHEEL PLows.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE Z7, 1913. 1,099,195, Y Patented June 9,1914.

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STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

WINFIELD SCOTT NICHOLS, OF PLANO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR1TO INDEPENDENT HARVESTER COMPANY, OF PLANO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CASTER-OONTROLLER FOR WHEEL-PLOWS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Juin l. i), 1914;.

Application led. June 27, 1913. Serial No. 776,040.

accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

This invention relates to means for `controlling the rear caster wheels of wheel plows.

lt consists in the features and elements described and shown in the drawings as in-` dicated by the claims.

lnithe drawingsz-Figure 1 is a plan` view of a wheel plow showing the general outlines of the plow in dotted lines and in full lines the features embodyingthis invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section of the steering bracket taken as indicated at line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the caster controlling device with the steering and caster wheels in position for traversing a curved path. Fig. f1 is an enlarged detail view, being a rear elevation of the steering bracket with the rocker arm in the same positionas in llig.` 3.

The plow frame, 1illustrated in Fig. 1, is of the usual type supported on three wheels, viz., the front steering wheel, 2, a side wheel, 3, and a rear caster wheel, 4. The side wheel, 3, is journaled on an axle, 5, fixed with respect to the frame, 1, while the front and rear wheels, 2 and 4t, are carried upon short axles, 6 and 7, respectively, which are pivotally connected witli the frame in order to permit the plow to be steered aro-und curves as well as in a straight path. The caster wheel axle, 7, is a short arni jutting from the caster wheel bracket, 8, which comprises a vertical stein, 8a, journaled in a sleeve, 1, at the` rear end of the frame, 1. The steering wheel axle, 6, is a similar extension of a vertical post, 6, mounted in a sleeve, 1b, at one side of the frame at its forward end. Above this sleeve there is secured to the post, 6, the steering bracket, 9, carrying a rock shaft, 10, to which the tongue, 11, is connected so as to swing in a vertical plane in the usual inanner.

If the caster wheel, 4, were a mere trailer it would be too much influenced byrregularities, stones or soft places in the furrow which it was following, and would thus tend to give the entire plow frame a wabbling motion from side to side which would destroy the straightiiess of the furrow, and it is the purpose of the caster controlling mechanism about to be described to prevent this undue wabbling of the caster wheel while permitting it to swing upon its stem, S, whenever the plow is being steered around a curved path. For this purpose there extends from the stem, S, a radius arm, 8b, which is coupled by a reach rod, 12, to the controlling mechanism mounted on the steering bracket, 9. This mechanism coinprises a rocker arm, 13, mounted to swing in a substantially vertical plano about an axis `which in the normal straight-ahead position of the steering wheel, 2, is approximately parallel to the reach rod, l2. The

j upper end of the rocker, 13, overhangs the Ipost, (la, and the forward end of the reach rod, 12, is here coupled to the rocker, 13, ,by a swivel, 1st, whose vertical axis coincides with that of the post, G, so as to permit the said post and the steering `bracket to turn freely in the sleeve, l, without moving f or straining the reach rod, 12. It will now ,be observed that soV long as the steering i wheel, 2, remains in its straight-ahead. position the connection of the reach rod, 12, to the steering bracket through the rocker arm, 13, will prevent any wabbling of the trailer l or caster wheel, 1; but when the post, 6, is

Ving of the draft horses,

turned in the sleeve, 1", for swinging the steering wheel, 2, to follow a curved path the pivot axis of the rocker arm, 13, being no longer parallel to the reach rod, l2, permits the rocker, 13, to yield to the thrust or pull of said reach rod resulting from the natural tendency of the t'ailing wheel, 4l, to respond to the curvilinear path of the plow by swinging about the axis of the stem, Sk In this manner the trailing caster wheel, 4l, is locked against wabbling so long as the plow travels in a straight line, but is permitted to perform its function as a trailer wheel whenever the plow is definitely steered into a curved path by the swinging of the tongue and the steering ln'acket to which it is attached. In the ordinary course of plowing there is always a certain amountof side to side play of the tongue caused by the walkparticularly on rough ground, but since the axis of the rocker arm, 13, must be quite definitely niovedout of parallel with the reach rod, 12, to render the rocker sensitive to any thrust of such reach rod, this slight side-to-side play of the tongue will not operate to free the caster wheel from its proper straightahead position; there is, however, no hindrance to such side-to-side play of the tongue by reason of the fact that the vertical pivot axis of the swivel, 14, by which the reach rod is connected with the rocker arm, 13, and with the steering bracket co-incides with the axis of the post, 6, on which the tongue, 11, swings. Y

lVithout interfering with the freedom of action of any of the parts the present device renders it possible to plow a very straight furrow even on comparatively rough ground and at the same time to have available all the advantages of the steering and caster wheel construction in driving the plow around. curves.- f

F or connectingthe reach rod, 12, to the radius arm, 8b, a sleeve, 8c, is pivoted to the arm, the rod, 12, passing through. said sleeve and being engaged with it through the medium of cushion springs, 12a, whereby the caster wheel, 4,.may yield to any serious'obstaclein its path'without danger of wrenching or breaking the mechanism, Thev forward end of the reach rod, 12,1is pivotally secured in the forked end of the swivel, 14, above 'mentioned The movement of the rocker arm, 13, islimited in one direction by `cooperating stop lugs, 13a and 9a, and in the 4other direction by an extension, 13b, which strikes against the bracket, 9, in the return movement of the arm. Arspring, 15, is preferably coiledabout the pivot of the rocker, 13, to hold it yieldingly in normal position and tok return it to said normal position asthe plow resumes .a straightahead direction of travel.

1. In a wheel plow in combination with a frame, a steering bracket pivoted thereon and a caster wheel bracket pivotally connected thereto, a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket, a rocker arm on the steering bracket, and a reach rod connecting n ysaid arms, the pivot axis of said rocker arm be- A ing approximately parallelto said reach rod in t-he straight-ahead position'of the steering bracket. e. j Y

Y 2. In a wheel plow, in combination with a frame, Va steering bracket pivoted thereon and a caster wheel bracket pivotally connected thereto; a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket; a rocker arm on thesteering bracket;.a reach rod extending from said radius arm and pivotally connected to said rocker arm, the pivot axis of saidrocker arm being approximately parallel to said reach rod in the straight-ahead position of theV steering bracket, and the axis of the pivotal connection between the reach rod and rocker arm coinciding with the pivot axis of t-he steering bracket in the 'normal position of the rocker.

3. In a wheel plow, in combination with a frame, a steering bracket pivoted thereon-` ing approximately parallel to said reach rod in the straight-ahead position of the steering bracket and being laterally off-set with re` spect to the pivot axis of said bracket, said rocker arm extending in normal position to overhang saidV steering bracket at the pivotal connection of the latter with the frame, and

the-reach rod having pivotal connection with suchy overhanging portion ofsaid rocker arm such that the axis of saidconnection co-` incides with the pivot axis of the steering v bracket in the normal position of the rocker.`

4. In a wheel plow, in combination with 1 va frame, a steering bracket pivotedthereon and a caster wheel bracket pivotall'ylcon--m nectedthereto; a radius armY on the'casterk wheel bracket; a vrocker arm'on the steering bracket *andV a reach rod connectingfsaid arms, the pivot` axis of saidrocker arm .being approximately parallel to said reach rodin the straight-ahead position of the, steering bracket, and the connections of said reach rod with the said arms beingadapted to permit rotation of the rod about its own axis with respect to one of the arms 5. In a wheel plow, in combination withv a frame, a steering bracket and a casterk wheel bracket bothA pivotally connected Y thereto for swinging 4about approximatelyA vertical axes; a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket; a rocker arm pivoted on thesteering bracket for swinging about an approximately horizontal axis and a reachrod connecting said arms, the Vconnection be-A tween said reach rod and one of said arms comprising an approximately horizontal pivot adapted to accommodate the rise and fall of therod as the rocker arm swingsV about its horizontal axis. Y

6. In a wheel plow, in combination with a frame, a steeringy bracket and a-caster wheel bracket both pivotally connected thereto for swinging about approximately vertical axes;

a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket; a l

rocker arm pivoted on the steering bracket for swinging about an approximately horizontalaxis and a reach rod connecting said arms, the connection between said reach rod and one of said arms comprising an approximately horizontal pivot adap-ted to accommodate the rise and fall ofthe rod as the rocker arm swings about its horizontal axis,

and the connection between the reach rod and the other arm being adapted to permit rotation of the rod about `its own axis with respect to said arm.

7. In a wheel plow, in combination with a frame, a steering bracket pivotcd thereon and a caster wheel bracket pivotally connected thereto; a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket; a rocker arm on the steering bracket; a reach rod extending from said radius arm and pivotally connected to said rocker arm, the pivot axis of said reachrod in the straight-ahead position of the steer ing bracket, and the axis of the pivotal connection between the reach rod `and rocker arm coinciding with the pivot axis of the steering bracket in the normal position oit the rocker; means for yieldingly retaining said rocker arm in such normal position, and stops positioned to limit the swing of the rocker arm.

8. In a wheel plow, in combination with a frame, a steering bracket `pivoted thereon and, a caster wheel bracket pivotally connected thereto, a radius arm on the caster wheel bracket, a rocker arm on the steeringr bracket, a reach rod extending from said radius arm and pivotally connected to said rocker arm, the axis of such pivotal connection co-inciding with the Pivot. axis of the steering bracket in the normal position of the rocker, means for yieldingly retaining said rocker arm in such normal position, and an extending lug on the rocker dimensioned to abut the steering bracket for stopping said rocker insuch normal position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Plano, Illinois, this 24th day of June, 1913.

VINFIELD SCOTT NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

RICHARD O. LEITcI-I, F. H. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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